Expert: M J Robbins - 5/31/2011

Question
QUESTION: I am looking into purchasing a wine cooler for the sole purpose of storing cigars.  It will not have the spanish cedar shelves.  Two questions: 1) if my cigars are in a humidor and I place the humidor in the wine cooler are there any chances of ill effects to my cigars? 2) if my humidor is full and I need to store the cigars directly in the wine cooler, if the cigars are stored in their original box I purchased them in made of spanish cedar will their be any ill effects?

Thanks!

ANSWER: In a wine cooler
1) If you keep your cigars in a humidor in the cooler that is perfect.
2) If you keep your cigars in the original box that is perfect.

Keep the wine cooler at 65 degrees and 73% Rh  for cigars.

The only problem with the wine cooler would be if you keep wine in it also and you keep the temperature and humidity lower for the wine as that is not good for cigars.

You could still keep a few bottles of wine in the cooler at the cigar settings 65-73 because it is still a LOT better than keeping it on the counter or in a cupboard.

Enjoy
Mike

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The temp range on my wine cooler is 46 to 60 degrees.  If I keep it at 60 degrees, is that too low?

Answer
My cigar humidor has gone down to that temperature for a short period during a cold spell and there was no discernable problems. They do say the interior of the cigar can expand with time in the cold and crack the cigars.

Try a box in there for 6 months and see what happens.
Keep it at the high point of 60 degrees.
Call in a refrigeration expert and he can probably set it to 65 degrees.

At 60 degrees you need about 76% RH if that is your choice.

Enjoy and let me know
Mike